February always feels like a long month, pandemic or not. Many of us experienced severe winter weather, only for it to disappear as fast as it came. Outside editors huddled around fires, went on hikes, and made better coffee to get through it all. This is the gear we used to do it. Burch Barrel Fire Pit ($895) ( Photo: Courtesy Burch Barrel) I replaced our backyard grass with Astroturf a couple of years ago. That’s been an amazing upgrade for this owner of three large, extremely active dogs. While the synthetic fibers are impervious to weather, claws, and even copious quantities of poop, the material does have one major Achilles’ heel: heat. That’s what originally attracted me to this hanging fire pit. The secure tripod suspends the burn barrel two feet off the ground, protecting any surface below from both sparks and radiated heat. But it wasn’t until I tried one in person that I realized it was also a really neat grill. This thing has quickly become a centerpiece for outdoor entertainment, allowing other people to join in the cooking and giving us a source of warmth to gather around while we eat. Perfect for this pandemic winter. — Wes Siler, contributing editor